Do you struggle with control?

In our home, “Family Member A” cannot resist the urge to restack the dishwasher, already perfectly arranged and ready to run!  “A” has to control the placement of every glass and plate and fork!

“B” just sighs and leaves the room.  (Can you guess who is “A” and “B”?)

That might be funny, but feeling out of control is no joke right now.  Many of you report that your world feels out of control – with the pandemic, the wild fires, the coming election, the sad, shuttered small businesses and friends unemployed.

This week, as we continue our fall sermon series, “The Seven Deadly Fears,” we’ll look at the fear of losing control, turning to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

As Jesus preaches his sermon, he’s surrounded by people whose lives have little control: the grieving can’t control if they’ll recover from their loss. The laborers can’t control if they’ll find work and how much they’ll be paid.  The accused can’t control if they’ll get justice from courts run by political toadies. The fishers and farmers can’t control their yields, with unpredictable storms and droughts.

Yet, Jesus calls all these people, “blessed.”

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Blessed!” Those who have lost control are “blessed”?  How could that be?

We’ll answer that question this Sunday, and learn about real control.